Tapestry Wall Hangings - As Beautiful and Functional Now as They Were Centuries Ago

Tapestry Wall Hangings are both a historical treasureavailable in a wide variety of contemporary and
and - currently - one of the fastest-growing segmentstraditional designs.
of the wall decor market. Which makes tapestry wallTraditional Tapestry Wall Hangings
hangings a unique combination of fashion trend andSome tapestry buyers prefer the historical aspects of
ancient art form. Tapestry weaving, as an art form,tapestry recreations that include Gothic wall hangings,
has existed for centuries. Antique specimens of fineFrench Baroque and William Morris' works. For some,
art tapestries date back to 1500 BC in Egypt and earlythe main appeal of these tapestries is their connection
Greek poetry and paintings on Greek vases show thatwith history... the story behind the artwork. The
tapestry weaving was already an important householdcombination of art and history can be irresistible to art
industry.lovers who are looking for more depth in their home
Since the beginning of their history, tapestries havedecor choices.
been used as both an art from and a medium forReproductions of these famous, traditional tapestries
recording historical events. The famous Beauxare proving very popular with today's art lover. These
Tapestry is a historical account of the Battle oftapestry recreations capture the drama of historical
Hastings in 1066. The tapestry was hand woven andart, perfectly blending it with modern weaving methods.
took several years to complete.The end result is often very faithful to the original
Through the use of Tapestries, the stories of Homer'sartists' vision, with all the durability and appeal of
Odyssey and Illiad, Virgil's Aneida and Ovid'smodern fabrics.
Metamorphoses were told in brilliant colors andTraditional tapestry designs often surprise
stunning texture. In fact, woven tapestry art has beencontemporary art lovers with their attention to detail,
used to tell the stories of the Greeks, Romans,their ability to capture emotion and their exploration of
Medieval, and the Renaissance period as well as thetimeless themes such as love and romance.
stories from the bible, both the old and the newContemporary Tapestry Wall Hangings
testament. In the early fourteenth century, tapestry wallOthers are looking at the capability of the art form to
hangings became a symbol of elegance and wealth.produce stunning contemporary tapestries that bring
Thousands of tapestries have been commissioned asthe ancient art form into their modern lifestyle.
pure works of art, adorning fine homes through theCombining bold colors and striking designs with the
ages. The first wave of tapestry production originatedancient art form of tapestry weaving produces
in Germany and Switzerland. Over time, the craftartworks like nothing seen before. These
expanded to France and the Netherlands.contemporary tapestry wall hangings showcase the
Arras, France was probably the best known and mosttactile advantages of tapestry wall hangings, while
respected of these textile towns. During the 14th andproviding a contemporary visual appeal. Recently,
15th centuries, Arras created fine wool tapestriesartists have begun licensing their works for recreation
which were used to decorate palaces and castlesas a tapestry wall hanging, including such artists as
across Europe. Although most of these tapestriesMax Hayslette, Nancy O'Toole and Will Rafuse... just to
were destroyed during the French Revolution, the termname a few. Florals and landscapes and cityscapes
" Arras" is still used - to this day - to refer to a richare strong themes in today's contemporary fine art
tapestry, no matter where it was woven.tapestries, while others are created to provide a unique
Not just Art, Tapestry Wall Hangings Are Elegance.theme, such as playing cards, billiards or fashion.
As far back as ancient Greece, hand-woven tapestryTraditional or Contemporary, tapestries are woven
art was believed to be an important means forworks of art. Most of today's tapestry artworks are
decorating affluent homes and important buildings.woven on jacquard looms and utilize between nine
Tapestry art was even thought to have covered theand seventeen miles of thread in each design. The
walls of the Parthenon. Tapestries have alwayscolor palates of the warp and weft threads work in
graced the walls of fine homes because of theirconcert to achieve a broad range of colors on the
elegance. and because tapestries add an ambiance toface of the tapestry.
a room as the fabric reduces sound vibrations,Because of this, tapestries have texture not found in
enhancing the acoustical characteristics of the room inany other art form. The combination of the thread
which they are displayed.colors and weaves create a unique art experience
Part of the historical success of decorative tapestriesthat changes with each viewing angle. See for
can be attributed to their portability. Kings andyourself why tapestries have proven their worth for
noblemen could easily roll up tapestry wall hangings inover a thousand years.
order to transport them from one residence toTapestries May Be Hung In Several Ways.
another. Some tapestries were only displayed onTapestries are meant to be hung from the walls, the
special occasions. Tapestries were also draped on themanner in which they are hung is a mixture of personal
walls of castles for insulation during winter.preference and science.
The combination of visual appeal, acoustic resonanceIf you have sheetrock walls (sheetrock has a high lime
and practicality still give tapestry wall hangings a uniquecontent) do not hang your tapestries directly against
and stunning appeal in any home. No longer are theythe wall. Over time, the lime in the sheetrock will
reserved for the upper echelon of homes, modernadversely affect your tapestry. Utilize brackets that will
weaving techniques have made tapestry wall hangingskeep the tapestry 1-2 inches off the walls.
affordable for any home.If you have plaster walls, feel free to hang your
Tapestries today are created with a mix of past andtapestry against the wall, or 1-2 inches off the wall.
present art.Do not hang a tapestry in direct sunlight. As with any
Tapestry Wall Hangings have experienced a rebirth inwork of art--oil, paper, etc--direct sunlight will fade the
the 21st century, as many homeowners are looking atart over time.
them as a stunning alternative to traditional wall decorTake a look at tapestry wall hangings for yourself and
options. The tactile nature of tapestries, combined withyou'll see why woven tapestries make the perfect
their rich history, has created a warm and stunningcombination of form, function and beauty.
appeal for home-owners.Today's tapestries are